Rifts Among Bishops Concering ND

Steve Stack

According to the Chicago Tribune there is a rift and confusion about Obama's invitation to be the commencement speaker at Notre Dame this year. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando is not for Obama's speaking but is not taking the stance that a number of Bishops within the US are. He is hosting a mass to allow members of his congregation to pray for change and more support for the Catholic beliefs on abortion and stem cell research. There has been a huge uproar from the Catholic community of Bishops about Obama's stance going against the stance of the Catholic Church and many have taken to boycotting the ceremony. I think it is very important for the Bishops to take the stance of the Church but I also believe that the Catholic community is in the dark about the stance the Church is taking. In the article it noted that only about half of a surveyed group of Catholics were even aware of the confrontation. I also believe that the Catholic Church is partly using this to raise the issue of abortion and stem cell research in a time when those are not primary concerns for Americans or the government. I believe that Notre Dame and Catholics across the country should honor President Obama as our national leader and put aside the moral differences between his policies and Catholicism's and acknowledge the great strides America has come. Along with that it is also important to realize that Obama stands against the morals of the Catholic Church and it is important for the Church to present its case to the people and the government and make sure they are not pushed aside.